of Russian emperors were bestowed the title of Dowager Empress, and ranked above the wife of the reigning emperor.

In popular culture

Elderly widows of wealth, prominence, and dignified or autocratic manner are often referred to informally as dowagers. Dowagers portrayed in literature include the Dowager Duchess of Merton in Agatha Christie's Lord Edgware Dies, and the Dowager Duchess of Denver,

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